No. Mouth. SOS!

This is just as much as vent as it is a cry for help 😄

I know, I know... toddlers explore with their mouths and it's normal...

however, my kid puts EVERYTHING in their mouth...

and we are careful, of course, but it's so nerve-wracking!

We are straightforward with our communication. "We only put food in our mouth. That's dangerous and yucky."

We give one warning, state the consequence, and follow through.

"Look at mommy's face so I know I have your attention. If you put that in your mouth again, I'm going to take it away to keep you safe, and you won't be allowed to play with that anymore. It is dangerous and yucky. No mouth or we will be all done."

This is always followed by toddler smelling the item instead, then putting it on their head, then cheeks, then nose, showcasing all the places the toy can go and telling me "Can swell (smell) it. Can put on head. Can put on cheek. Can put on nose. No mouth!" (adorable and hysterical, honestly). I give praise saying yes, those are good choices.

The item typically ends up back in the mouth within moments, is immediately taken away, and goes in the junk drawer full of other toys we know can only be played with if taken out by us and under constant supervision.

Guys, the drawer is getting full!

I have babysat and held many nanny roles for toddlers over thd years, and I have never experienced a toddler who is such a "mouth baby". We still can't give unsupervised access to books unless they're indestructible. All of the stuffies have gross little funky spots where they've been chewed/water-logged with saliva. We can't allow even limited unsupervised access to any of their favorites (stamps, stickers, crayons, markers, paint brush, chalk, play dough, kinetic sand, paper, coloring books, sensory bins, dress up accessories, magnets, flash cards, etc.).

It is so frustrating for both parents and kiddo!

Any advice? Tips? Suggestions? Commeraderie?